Santa Claus came to a California Wal-Mart on Friday — not to hand out presents or spread cheer — but to protest what company employees are calling unfair wages and working hours.

His plan was to leave in handcuffs.

“I'm going to get arrested for civil disobedience,” said Karl Hilgert of Claremont, who came dressed as Santa to support Wal-Mart workers.

Hilgert got his wish, along with nine others, who sat on the ground in a circle and refused to leave despite warnings from police.

More than 100 warehouse workers and other Wal-Mart employees from various Southern California stores gathered at the location in Ontario, Calif. at 6 a.m. for the protest.

They marched in front of the store, chanting in English and Spanish and carrying signs with messages such as “Livable Wages Over Greed.”

The group then marched to the nearby intersection and waited for police to arrive. After three loud-speaker announcements for participating in an unlawful assembly, officers in riot gear approached, read participants their Miranda rights and then arrested them. They were taken to the police department, issued citations and then released.

Lupe Palma, director for Wal-Mart's warehouse workers, said the workers are responsible for moving Wal-Mart merchandise day after day, but many make less than $25,000 a year.

“Wal-Mart has the responsibility to this community to do better,” she said.

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Warehouse Workers United, who co-sponsored the event, scheduled protests throughout the country, including South Los Angeles, Chicago, the San Francisco Bay, Seattle and Sacramento.

Martha Sellers, who works at a Wal-Mart store as a cashier, says she's been at the store 10 years and makes $13.40 an hour. The store gives her about 35 hours a week, but often she receives fewer hours.

“Every time we call attention to what Walmart's doing and get the community involved, it's great,” she said.

Not all employees agree with claims made by protesters.

Crystal Zerr, a customer service manager at a Wal-Mart store, says she's worked for Walmart nearly six years and that there's plenty of opportunities to get promoted and receive raises. She declined to reveal her current wage.

“I make enough to support my daughter, i have a roof over my head, food on the table and I still have enough left over at the end of the month for little extras,” she said.

Most Wal-Mart stores are open 24 hours, but the world's largest retailer started its holiday shopping sales events at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving, two hours earlier than last year. Wal-Mart said that customers bought 2.8 million towels, two million TVs, 1.4 million tablets, 300,000 bicycles and 1.9 million dolls.

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